Bricklayer&#39;s line trig



Dec. 20, 1949 E. M. HULQUIST 2,492,044

BRICKLAYERS LINE TRIG Filed June 25, 1947 Edward M. Hu/qu/st INVENTOR- ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT: QF FICE f 2,492,044 BRICKLAYERS LINE Taro Edward M. Hulquisul allas, Tex. Application June 23, 1947, Serial No. 756,513

. This invention relates to bricklayers tools and equipment and more particularly to a bricklayers line trig.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a line holding device for bricklayers which is constructed with but few parts so designed and assembled that the tool is not likely to be impaired by deposits of mortar or other foreign matter and further, the tool may be conveniently carried in the pocket for ready use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a line holding device consisting of a pair of clamping members, each shaped to define a handle portlon and held together solely by a leaf spring which yieldingly resists expanding action of the members to firmly hold the device on a brick. The peculiar shape of the members makes the device either right or left, that is to say, a line may be held with equal facility on either side of the device. Moreover, provision is made not only for adjusting the relative spacing of the clamping members to accommodate bricks or building blocks of various widths but also, an auxiliary screw adjustment for minor width variations in common brick.

With the foregoing objects in view, the invention has further reference to certain features of accomplishment which will become apparent as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bricklayers line trig constructed accordin to the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of a brick wall under construction showing an adaptation of the invention, and

Figure 3 is a side elevational View, showing in dotted lines the clamping position of the tool.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing reference numeral Ill denotes the clamping members which are of identical construction except for the fact that one of the members has an aperture therein receiving a bolt H which latter passes through a slot l2 adjacent one end of a leaf Spring I3, to which further reference will be made presently.

The clamping members I may be made from flat aluminum or steel stock or they may be cast. In the present case, they are shown as constructed 0! strap metal, one end of each being formed with a flush reverse bend to provide a leg M, the

2 Claims. (Cl. 33-436) inner fold terminating short of the body of the member to define a space l5 adapted-to receive and hold a line l6 when the device is clamped onto a brick, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The opposite end of each member ID is rolled to form a handle portion IT.

The spring I3 is normally in the arcuate form shown in solid lines in Figure 3 and is of a width throughout its length equal to that of the members l0. One end of the spring is attached, as by rivets I8, to the underside of one of the members l0 while its opposite end is, as stated, adjustably attached to the companion member ID by virtue of the bolt ll passing through the slot l2 in the spring and through an aligned aperture in the said member ID. A wing nut I9 is threaded onto the bolt I l to secure the parts against relative displacement.

To adjust the tools for use on building blocks other than brick, it is necessary only to loosen the nut I9 and move the member Ifl outwardly a distance sufficient to space the legs l4 so that they will engage the sides of the blocks when the tool is expanded by pressing the handles I! together.

Ordinary bricks frequently vary in width. To adapt the tool to such variations, a simple auxiliary adjustment is provided in the form of a screw 20 which is threaded through the le M of one of the clamping members In. By moving this screw inwardly or outwardly as by a screwdriver the tool may be made to fit bricks whose width variations are small.

The handle portions I1 of the tool are so de-- signed and related that when the members: Ill are fully expanded or assume relative parallelism as shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, the handles will be contiguous and resist further expansion. This, of course, will not be true when the mem-- bers ID are set farther apart for use on larger blocks, in the manner earlier described.

In Figures 1 and 2 is shown an adaptation of the too]. To insure accurate alignment of a course of brick 2|, the tool is grasped by the handle portions l1 and these are pressed together to expand the legs I 4 against the resistance of the spring l3. The line I6 is placed in the space ii at the shoulder of the tool and the latter is applied to a brick in transverse relationship therewith. It will be seen that the line, when drawn laid bricks forming the wall and will provide a guide for laying another brick course on the wall.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A bricklayers line holdin device including a pair of clamping members, each formed to define an L-shaped leg on one end and a substantially S-shaped handle portion on the opposite end, a normally'aredated fiat spring are width equal to that ofi the clamping member-and affi'xed at one end to the underside of one of said members and whose opposite end is longitudinally slotted, a screw in the companion member and entering said slot to adjustably attach the slotted end of said spring to the undersideof' the companion member and adapted to resist expansive- 4 substantially right angles to the plane of the body thereof and a substantially S-shaped handle portion formed thereon, the said handle portions being oppositely disposed and engageable one with the other in expanded position of said holder to limit relative displacement of said clamping members, a line receiving and holding means adjacent each of said legs, a flat, normally arcuated spring afiixed at one end to one of said members, said spring being slotted at its opposite end to receive a screw carried by the companion clamping member for adjusting the latter member relative to the other of said members on said spring to change the relative spacing of said members and? anauxniary adjusting means in the leg of said adjustable clamping" member:

EDWARD M. HULQUIST.

REFERENCES CITED clips; '1, 1942 

